Wind Power Begins To Flow For Kansas City Power & Light

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L), a subsidiary of Great Plains Energy, announced its Spearville Wind Energy Facility is fully operational.

The site's 67 wind turbines are capable of producing 100.5 megawatts of electricity. That is enough clean, renewable electricity to serve the annual energy needs of approximately 33,000 homes.

"Putting these wind turbines on the power grid is an important milestone in our comprehensive plan to meet the growing energy needs of the Kansas City area," said Kansas City Power & Light CEO Bill Downey. "This wind facility, combined with several innovative demand response and energy efficiency programs and investments in technologies to substantially reduce air emissions at existing power plants, and a new power plant near Weston, Mo., is part of our balanced approach to power generation that will provide significant environmental and economic benefits."

Governor Kathleen Sebelius said, "I commend KCP&L for their site selection of Spearville out of the heart of the Flint Hills and for their leadership in developing this clean and renewable resource."

Construction of the 67 wind turbines began last June. When completed, total capital cost of the project will be approximately $166 million.

KCP&L is the first regulated electric utility to own and operate a large-scale wind facility in Kansas. The 100.5-megawatt facility is located near Spearville, Kan., about 17 miles northeast of Dodge City.

SOURCE: Kansas City Power & Light